Page:The Celebrated Romance of the Stealing of the Mare.djvu/118

 with him, and wouldst listen to his words and wouldst follow his counsel, nor be his adversary for ever. For to thee he were the truest of companions and of helpers. And he were of more advantage to thee than all the tribes, even than thine own Arabs."

Said the Narrator:

And when the Emir Fadel heard these words of the image, then cried he with a loud voice, and his cry filled the assembly and all the tribes heard it, and he swore a great oath and said, "Yea, verily will I, though he be the first of my foemen, that Abu Zeyd the Helali, the valiant one in fight, who slew my brethren and my kinsmen and my people." And when he swore that oath, the Prince Abu Zeyd started to his feet and cried with a loud cry which filled the whole assembly: "I am here, even I Salame." And he recited again the tale from the beginning, and all men heard and listened to the manner of his verses. And the Emir Fadel arose and pressed him to his heart, and all his trouble passed from him, and the tribesmen rejoiced at that which had come about. And thereupon the Narrator began to sing and he said:

Now returneth my tale and my singing and my verses

To that which him befell the Emir Agheyli Jaber.

For when they had sat them down, the chiefs in the pavilion,

And Abu Zeyd with them, and Fadel and ibn Saleh: